Interviews at Wende to conclude next week.

By Hardy Astrom

The search for a replacement for Brian Davis’ Common Council seat goes through the Department of Corrections this week, as City officials look to overlook the felonies that have landed several candidates behind bars.  A sign that many see as desperate has the Council scheduling interviews at Wende Correctional Facility and the Erie County Holding Center downtown next week.  Council member Bonnie Russell says that just because the candidates happen to be in jail doesn’t mean they won’t be able to serve their constituents well.

“I’m not going to deny someone the right to public service just because they are currently unable to coexist with the public,” she said in a phone interview.  “No more than I would deny a candidate who lived in a plastic bubble because of an immune deficiency.  This is Barak Obama’s America, people.”

The Ruse has learned that the candidates are incarcerated for felonies ranging from tax evasion and insurance fraud to arson and violent hate crimes.  Of the nine candidates who are currently in the running for Davis’ vacated seat, six are currently in a relationship with the judicial system.  The remaining three include a 78-year-old Pennsylvania resident who has never lived in the area, as well as developmentally disabled twins who currently reside in an assisted living complex in West Seneca.

Russell is optimistic that the search will be fruitful and that the seat will be filled by the end of January.  “Though we’ll have to revisit our residency requirements, we are looking at a highly qualified group of candidates who are certain to bring a new perspective to the Council,” she said.  “Perhaps an outsider’s view will breathe a little life into the Council.”  Russell said.

Critics of the applicants have repeatedly voiced concerns at Council meetings in recent weeks.  Most vehement objections came after Russell tried to liken incarceration to physical handicaps.

“Unfortunately, assault and hate crimes can be a part of everyone’s history.  It doesn’t preclude them from being responsible public servants,” Russell said in response last week.  ”I certainly wouldn’t deny someone with one leg or a drooly speech impediment from being on the Common Council.”

Council Member Mickey Kearns disagrees with the comparison.  “I don’t think it’s appropriate to compare an amputee to a person who burned a swastika into someone’s hair.  It doesn’t make sense,”  Kearns said, referring to David Wayne Darian, one of the candidates serving out the last 3 years of his 9-year sentence.

Russell remains hopeful that the candidates can overcome their sordid personal pasts.  “Brian Davis showed that he could serve the public valiantly while avoiding prosecution for bad math skills with respect to his personal finances.  If he can do that, I don’t see why an arsonist can’t advocate for the citizens of Buffalo.”

Council member Michael LoCurto has made his endorsement clear.  “I’d advise Buffalonians to go with the twins.  They just make better life decisions.”

“I did not pass bad checks to that man, Mr. Brinkworth.”

By Frank Brutus

Conspiracy victim

Common Council member Brian Davis, under fire after a scathing article published in his struggling hometown newspaper referred to him as a “deadbeat,” went on the offense this morning to defend himself against the article’s allegations that he is a “two-timing swindler, hustler and con artist all rolled into one big nefarious ball of political twine.”

“I want to say one thing to the American people,” said a red-faced Davis, pointing menacingly at the assembled press corps.  “I want you to listen to me.  I’m going to say this again: I did not pass bad checks to that man, Mr. Brinkworth.”

Kevin Brinkworth, the man Davis referred to in his strongly-worded statement, is the landlord of the now-closed bar and restaurant One Sunset.  He has alleged that Davis wrote him a bad check for almost $5000, one of a series of financial missteps highlighted in the “deadbeat” article that paints Davis as a greedy, incompetent politician who has abused his position on the Common Council for his own monetary gain.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, a close ally of Davis who joined him at the City Hall press conference, alleged that the “deadbeat” allegations are the result of a “vast right-wing conspiracy.”  The Mayor called on the American people to go after the journalists who have spread “these hurtful lies and untruths.”

Immediately following Davis’ emotional statement, Ronn Chesmonde, a hard-hitting reporter for The Buffalo Ruse who asks the tough questions, raised his hand and queried, “Is it true that you have consistently written personal checks for monetary amounts that you knew would not be covered by what you had in your bank account?”

Davis, who represents Buffalo’s Ellicott District, appeared flustered until an aide whispered in his ear and he replied to Chesmonde, ”It depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is.”  A nervous Davis then declared “These allegations are false and I need to get back to the work for the American people,” before hastily ending the question and answer portion of the news conference.

Acting Common Council President David Franczyk defended his embattled colleague.

“I think each of the members of the Common Council deserve financial perks for carrying out the underappreciated and underpaid duty of tightening the noose that has been placed around the neck of our city.  If Brian Davis can’t cover the checks that he is writing I place the blame solely on the outdated and inadequate salary earned by our struggling Common Council representatives.”

Franczyk emphasized that after the Council is granted a hefty raise, “each of Brian Davis’ personal checks will clear with plenty of room to spare.”